Dispensing container closure



March 25, 1941. E. FRANK 2,235,987'

DISPENSING CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed June 8, l939 A TTORNEYN.

Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,235,987 `nlsrliNsINa CONTAINER oLosUaE` Emil Frank, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 8, 1939, Serial No. 278,099 l 2 Claims.

My invention relates to dispensing container closures wherein by the movement of a sliding member sifting or dispensing openings in a wall of a metallic container is provided. In my 5 Patent No. 2,162,999, dated June 20, 1939, I disclosed a container having a topi wall with a segmental opening therein, the chord of which is greater than the thickness of the container, and a slide for closing the opening having an edge parallel with the chord of the arc of the segmental opening and perforations in the slide conforming to the arc of the opening. This application is a continuation in part of my Y Patent No. 2,162,999.

It is an object of my invention to describe one of thevarious modifications of closure openings susceptible for use with the inventive features of my invention as set forth in my patent hereinbefore referred to.

It is an object of my invention to provide irnprovements in dispensing closures wherein the sliding member forming the closure is held in position during one of the normal operations of the can construction.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved dispensing opening closure which will be inexpensive, non-liable to become displaced, and in which the manipulation of the closure may be simply accomplished.

The above objects and other objects to which reference will be made in the ensuing description, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of dispensing opening closure in a metal can.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the can illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modied type of closure.

Fig. 4 is a lateral sectional view of the can illustrated in Fig. 3 taken along the lines d--IL Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the combination of parts forming the end closure for the can top illustrated in Fig. 3 taken along the lines 5--5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the container is illustrated having side walls l, end walls 2 and a top wall 3, the end and side walls being secured in position by the downward crimping of side edges of the top wall as indicated at 4. Such construction is standard and forms no part of my invention.

The particular can to which I have applied my invention has a capacity of 11/2 ounces of pepper and has dimensions as follows: side walls- 2 by 3 inches-end walls-1 by 3 inches and top wall l by 2 inches. The main surface of the top wall is depressed about 1A?, inch. It will be obvious that in such construction it is not possible to make a dispensing opening for accommodating a teaspoon by cutting a hole in the top wall of segmentary shape with the chord of the segment extending across the width of the container, because a chord extending across the bowl of a teaspoon is normally over 11/4 inches long.

Accordingly I arrange a seginentary opening in the top wall of the container, the chord 5 of the segment extending diagonally across the container, the arc 6 of the segment, extending from the ends of the chord, being also diagonally positioned.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the can illustrated has a top wall spaced from the upper edges of the top Walls of the can and crimped-in guides 1 which hold in position a slide member having a body 8, and an actuating handle 9 formed by curling up a tongue projecting from the end of the slide member. The top wall has an indented ledge I0 which limits the forward movement of the sliding member by abutment of the front edge of the slide member.

In the modifications shown in Figures 3 to 5, the construction is substantially the same as in Figures 1 and 2 excepting that the side edges II, I2 of the slide member generally indicated at 8a are bent downwardly as best illustrated `in Figure 4. I iind that. this curling downwardly of the side edges of the slide member prevents the slide member from sticking in the guides 1. Further as a preferred type of intermediate stop to hold the slide member in dispensing position for sifting, I have found that by cutting a slot I3 in the slide member and crimping a hump or ridge I4 in the top wall of the can it will be easier to set the slide member for sifting position and also set the slide member in fully closed position by abutment of the curled edge of the handle 9.

The continuation subject matter in this case consists in the general arrangement of the can top with the inwardly crimped side guide for the slide member while the improvements specically shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 relate to the downward curling of the side edges of the slide member and the hump and slot forming a temporary stop, as modifications of the general arrangement of parts shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Having thus described yby invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure for a container of the character described having side and end Walls comprising a top Wall member having a dispensing opening therein, a slide member for opening and closing said dispensing opening and said top wall member having peripheral edge portions crimped to the side and end walls of said container, said peripheral edge portions having outwardly eX- tending ribs forming guide channels for restrain ing said sliding member to a plane of movement parallel With said top wall, and said slide member having downwardly turned side edges for spacing said slide member from the can top and avoiding sticking of said slide member in its movement in said guide channels.

2. A closure for a container of the character described having side and end walls comprising a top Wall member having a dispensing opening therein, a slide member for opening and closing said dispensing opening and said top wall member having peripheral edge portions crimped to the side and end walls of said container, said peripheral edge portions having outwardly eX- tending ribs forming guide channels for restraining said sliding member to a plane of movement parallel with said top wall, said sliding member having downwardly turned side edges for spacing said slide member from the can top and avoiding sticking of said slide member in its movement in said guide channels, and said top Wall having an upwardly crimped ridge and said slide member having a slit for engaging in said upwardly crimped ridge to restrain said slide member in an intermediate position of sifting dispensing.

' EMIL FRANK. 

